1
Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρὸς Ἰωνᾶν τὸν τοῦ Ἀμαθὶ λέγων·
And the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amathi, saying:
The characteristic prophetic-book opening formula 'and the word of the LORD came to …' (wayyᵉhî dᵉbar-YHWH). The LXX's Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος closely mirrors the Hebrew idiom, and the καί is a Hebraism (waw-consecutive) rather than a true Greek sequential connective.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
ΚαὶandHebraistic paratactic connector (waw-consecutive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐγένετοcame / happenedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential / occurrence)→ constative aorist (event as a whole)γίνομαι: 'come to be, happen'; in 'the word came' it renders Hebrew הָיָה (hāyāh), a standard prophetic formula.
λόγοςwordNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceλόγος: 'word, utterance'; here the authoritative divine address (דְּבַר יְהוָה), the prophetic word of commission.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source/origin→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the LXX's standard rendering of the Tetragrammaton יְהוָה; anarthrous here in the formula, as is typical of the possessive-genitive use.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction/recipient)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
ἸωνᾶνJonahAccusativeobject of πρός (recipient of the word)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸωνᾶς: first-declension masculine proper noun (nom. Ἰωνᾶς, gen. Ἰωνᾶ, acc. Ἰωνᾶν); rendering Hebrew יֹונָה 'dove.' NT: Matt 12:39–41; 16:4; Luke 11:29–32.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (with patronymic implied noun)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article in the genitive, marking relation or substantival reference.
ἈμαθὶAmathipatronymic genitive (indeclinable proper noun; son-of slot)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἈμαθί: indeclinable transliteration of Hebrew אֲמִתַּי (ʾĂmittay); the father's name is left uninflected, a standard LXX practice for exotic names.
λέγων·saying:Pres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · λέγωattendant-circumstance participle (introduces direct discourse)→ present participle (simultaneous/modal with ἐγένετο)λέγω: 'say'; the Hebraism לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr, 'saying') is exactly reproduced; introduces the divine speech in vv.2.
2
Ἀνάστηθι καὶ πορεύθητι εἰς Νινευὴ τὴν πόλιν τὴν μεγάλην καὶ κήρυξον ἐν αὐτῇ, ὅτι ἀνέβη ἡ κραυγὴ τῆς κακίας αὐτῶν πρός με.
Rise and go to Nineveh the great city and cry out in it, because the cry of its wickedness has come up before me.
The commission has three imperatives: ἀνάστηθι ('rise'), πορεύθητι ('go'), κήρυξον ('cry out'); the motivation clause (ὅτι) grounds the command in the city's notorious wickedness. 'Rise' is a Hebraism of departure (קוּם, qûm), not mere physical action.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
ἈνάστηθιriseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative of command)→ ingressive aorist imperative (begin the action)ἀνίστημι: 'rise, get up'; as a Hebraism (קוּם) it functions as an idiomatic call to action/departure rather than literal rising.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (Hebraistic serial imperative)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
πορεύθητιgoAor Pass Impv 2 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb (imperative of command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeπορεύομαι: 'go, travel, proceed'; the deponent form (pass. form, active sense); the destination follows.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement or direction toward a destination.
ΝινευὴNinevehAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination; indeclinable proper noun)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceΝινευή: indeclinable LXX rendering of Hebrew נִינְוֵה (Nîněwēh), capital of the Assyrian empire; the supreme symbol of Gentile wickedness.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
πόλινcityAccusativeappositive accusative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπόλις: 'city'; with the attributive adjective μεγάλην identifies the city's significance.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle (attributive position)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
μεγάληνgreatAccusativeattributive adjective→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμέγας: 'great'; the repeated epithet 'the great city' (also 3:2; 4:11) reflects Nineveh's legendary size in antiquity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
κήρυξονcry out / proclaimAor Act Impv 2 Sg · κηρύσσωmain verb (imperative of command)→ constative aorist imperativeκηρύσσω: 'herald, proclaim aloud'; the word for prophetic public announcement; LXX renders Hebrew קְרָא (qārāʾ, 'call out, proclaim').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐν: preposition with the dative marking location, sphere, or circumstance; here 'in'.
αὐτῇitDativedative object of ἐν (referring to πόλιν)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the dative, here referring back to the city as the object within the prepositional phrase.
ὅτιbecause / forcausal conjunction (introducing motivation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: conjunction introducing a causal clause; here 'because / for'.
ἀνέβηhas gone upAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀναβαίνωmain verb of subordinate causal clause→ constative aorist (completed ascent)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up, ascend'; the cry 'going up' to God is a Hebraism echoing Gen 18:21 (the sin of Sodom 'cried out'); sin that reaches heaven demands divine response.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
κραυγὴcry / outcryNominativesubject of ἀνέβη→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκραυγή: 'cry, clamor, outcry'; often of distress; here of accusatory wickedness ascending to God (cf. Gen 18:20–21; 19:13).
τῆςof theGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article in the genitive feminine, marking the associated noun phrase.
κακίαςwickednessGenitivegenitive of content (the cry consists of wickedness) or epexegetic genitive→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκακία: 'wickedness, evil, malice'; renders Hebrew רָעָה (rāʿāh) — the same word used for the 'disaster' the LORD later threatens and relents from (3:10).
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possession (the city's wickedness)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the genitive of possession, here 'their'.
πρόςbefore / topreposition + accusative (direction toward divine person)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction or orientation; here 'before / to'.
με.meAccusativeobject of πρός (the LORD speaking)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμε.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'me' in this immediate context.
3
Καὶ ἀνέστη Ἰωνᾶς τοῦ φυγεῖν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου· καὶ κατέβη εἰς Ἰόππην καὶ εὗρεν πλοῖον βαδίζον εἰς Θαρσίς, καὶ ἔδωκεν τὸ ναῦλον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐνέβη εἰς αὐτὸ τοῦ πλεῦσαι μετ᾽ αὐτῶν εἰς Θαρσὶς ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου.
And Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD; and he went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish, and he paid his fare and boarded it to sail with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
The verse enacts the flight with five verbs: ἀνέστη, κατέβη, εὗρεν, ἔδωκεν, ἐνέβη — a descending sequence. The emphatic repetition of εἰς Θαρσίς (three times) and ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου (twice, bracketing the verse) underscores the deliberateness of the flight. The articular infinitive τοῦ φυγεῖν / τοῦ πλεῦσαι is a Hebraism (infinitive of purpose).
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
Καὶandparatactic connector (narrative sequence)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (departure idiom)→ ingressive aoristἀνίστημι: same departure idiom as in the command (v.2); Jonah's rising echoes and inverts the divine command to rise and go.
ἸωνᾶςJonahNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸωνᾶς: Greek rendering of יוֹנָה ('dove'); the prophet's name, here as subject or topic in the narrative.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of purpose)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: the genitive article + infinitive (τοῦ ποιῆσαι) expresses purpose — the strength is given 'in order to produce wealth.'
φυγεῖνfleeAor Act Infin · φεύγωinfinitive of purpose (τοῦ + inf.)→ constative aorist infinitiveφεύγω: 'flee, escape'; the deliberate choice to flee — not ignorance but defiance.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement or direction toward a destination.
ΘαρσὶςTarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceΘαρσίς: indeclinable LXX rendering of Hebrew תַּרְשִׁישׁ (Taršîš); identified in antiquity with the far western Mediterranean, perhaps Tartessus in Spain — the opposite direction from Nineveh.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
προσώπουpresence / faceGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (Hebraism: מִפְּנֵי, 'from the face/presence of')→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρόσωπον: 'face, presence'; the Hebraism 'from the face of the LORD' (מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה) means 'away from the LORD's presence/service.' The phrase recurs twice in this verse.
κυρίου·of the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (possessive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the LXX's standard rendering of the divine name YHWH; here in the genitive of relation.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative sequence)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
κατέβηwent downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristκαταβαίνω: 'go down, descend'; the first of a descending series — down to Joppa, down into the ship's hold (v.5), ultimately down to Sheol (2:2). The descent motif is theologically freighted.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement or direction toward a destination.
ἸόππηνJoppaAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸόππη: 'Joppa' (modern Jaffa); the Mediterranean port city, about 35 miles from Jerusalem; later the city of Peter's vision (Acts 9:36; 10:5).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εὗρενfoundAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὑρίσκωmain verb→ constative aoristεὑρίσκω: 'find, discover'; the providential finding of a ready ship contributes irony — the flight is almost too easy, yet the LORD controls it all.
πλοῖονshipAccusativedirect object of εὗρεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπλοῖον: 'ship, boat'; the standard LXX/NT word for a sailing vessel.
βαδίζονgoingPres Act Ptcp Acc Sg Neut · βαδίζωattributive participle (modifying πλοῖον)→ present participle (ongoing readiness)βαδίζω: 'walk, go'; less common than πορεύομαι; used here of the ship's voyage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement or direction toward a destination.
Θαρσίς,Tarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceΘαρσίς: LXX rendering of Tarshish, traditionally understood as a far-western maritime destination; indeclinable here.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔδωκενgave / paidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; here 'paid the fare' — τὸ ναῦλον αὐτοῦ, his passage money. Jonah uses his own resources to finance the flight.
τὸtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative or nominative neuter singular noun phrase here.
ναῦλονfareAccusativedirect object of ἔδωκεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceναῦλον: 'ship's fare, passage-money'; a nautical term (from ναῦς, 'ship').
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the genitive of possession, here 'his'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐνέβηboardedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐμβαίνωmain verb→ constative aoristἐμβαίνω: 'board, embark'; the nautical sense of stepping into the vessel.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (into the ship)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement into a place or state.
αὐτὸitAccusativeobject of εἰς (referring to πλοῖον)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the accusative, here referring back to the ship as the object of motion.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive of purpose→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: the genitive article + infinitive (τοῦ ποιῆσαι) expresses purpose — the strength is given 'in order to produce wealth.'
πλεῦσαιsailAor Act Infin · πλέωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveπλέω: 'sail, travel by sea'; the articular infinitive of purpose (τοῦ πλεῦσαι) is a Hebraism echoing the earlier τοῦ φυγεῖν.
μετ᾽withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμετά: preposition with the genitive marking accompaniment; here 'with'.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive of accompaniment (the sailors)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: them, the residents of the citadel.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement or direction toward a destination.
ΘαρσὶςTarshishobject of εἰς (indeclinable; third occurrence in verse)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceΘαρσίς: LXX rendering of Tarshish, traditionally understood as a far-western maritime destination; indeclinable here.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
προσώπουpresenceGenitivegenitive of Hebraism (ἐκ προσώπου = מִלִּפְנֵי)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρόσωπον: face or presence; in the Hebraism ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου it means 'from the presence of the LORD'.
κυρίου.of the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the LXX's standard rendering of the divine name YHWH; here in the genitive of relation.
4
Καὶ κύριος ἐξήγειρεν πνεῦμα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευεν τοῦ συντριβῆναι.
And the LORD aroused a wind upon the sea, and a great surge arose on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being shattered.
The divine subject acts for the first time: ἐξήγειρεν ('aroused') marks the LORD's direct intervention. The sequence of three clauses — wind, storm surge, endangered ship — escalates the crisis. κλύδων ('surge, swell') is the LXX's choice over the more common σεισμός or τρικυμία, emphasizing the rolling sea rather than a sudden tempest.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the LORD; anarthrous but definite by context — the God of Israel who commissioned Jonah.
ἐξήγειρενaroused / hurledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ constative aoristἐξεγείρω: 'rouse up, stir up'; the LXX choice renders Hebrew הֵטִיל (hēṭîl, 'hurled'), which is more violent; the Greek word emphasizes the wind being 'roused' from sleep.
πνεῦμαwindAccusativedirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπνεῦμα: 'spirit, wind, breath'; here the natural element; πνεῦμα renders Hebrew רוּחַ (rûaḥ), which has the same double sense.
εἰςuponpreposition + accusative (direction/against)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς + accusative: 'into / upon'; 'strike upon the ground'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς (destination/recipient of force)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: 'sea'; the Mediterranean.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐγένετοarose / there wasAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (existential)→ ingressive aorist (the storm coming into existence)γίνομαι (γένοιτο): 'so be it / Amen'; renders אָמֵן; see on v. 15.
κλύδωνsurge / storm-surgeNominativesubject of ἐγένετο→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκλύδων: 'surge, rough wave, turbulence'; a notable LXX word choice (rather than χειμών or σεισμός); renders Hebrew סַעַר (saʿar, 'tempest, storm'). Jas 1:6 uses κλυδωνίζομαι for wave-tossing.
μέγαςgreatNominativepredicate adjective→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμέγας: 'great'; like the 'great city' of v.2, the 'great fish' (2:1), and the 'great wind' here — the recurrence of μέγας underscores the God who deals in cosmic scale.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐν: preposition with the dative marking location or surface relation; here 'on'.
τῇtheDativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article in the dative, marking the associated noun phrase.
θαλάσσῃ,seaDativedative of location→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθαλάσσῃ: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'sea' in this immediate context.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
τὸtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative or nominative neuter singular noun phrase here.
πλοῖονshipNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπλοῖον: ship or vessel; the merchant ship that becomes the scene of Jonah's attempted flight.
ἐκινδύνευενwas in dangerImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · κινδυνεύωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (ongoing peril)κινδυνεύω: 'to be in danger, be at risk'; the imperfect emphasizes continuing jeopardy; same verb in Acts 19:27, 40.
τοῦofGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of content after κινδυνεύω)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: indeclinable form used here with the sense 'of'.
συντριβῆναι.being shatteredAor Pass Infin · συντρίβωinfinitive (content of danger)→ constative aorist infinitiveσυντρίβω: 'shatter, break in pieces'; a strong verb for violent destruction.
5
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναῦται καὶ ἀνεβόων ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν· Ἰωνᾶς δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἔρρεγχεν.
And the sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his own god, and they threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it from them. But Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship and was lying down and was snoring.
The verse divides sharply with δέ: frantic sailors above (each praying to his own god, jettisoning cargo) vs. sleeping Jonah below. The verb ἔρρεγχεν ('snored') is vivid and unusual — the prophet is not merely asleep but in deep, oblivious slumber. The articular infinitive τοῦ κουφισθῆναι is again a Hebraism.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐφοβήθησανwere afraidAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (fear seized them)φοβέομαι: 'fear, be afraid'; the sailors' escalating fear is tracked through the chapter — here ordinary maritime terror; in v.10 specifically directed at the LORD.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the following substantive or substantival phrase.
ναῦταιsailorsNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceναύτης: 'sailor, mariner'; from ναῦς 'ship'; these are pagan professionals whose practical piety (praying, lightening the ship) contrasts with Jonah's dereliction.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἀνεβόωνwere crying outImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous urgent crying)ἀναβοάω: 'cry out loudly, call aloud'; the ἀνα- prefix intensifies the cry upward; imperfect of sustained distress.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject (each of the sailors praying individually)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the distribution implies a polytheistic crew, each invoking his own patron deity.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
θεὸνgodAccusativeobject of πρός→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθεός: 'god'; articular but referring to each sailor's own deity (thus 'his god'), not the God of Israel.
αὐτοῦ,his ownGenitivegenitive of possession (his own god)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the genitive of possession, here 'his own'.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐκβολὴνjettisoningAccusativedirect object of ἐποιήσαντο (cognate-object idiom)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκβολή: 'throwing overboard'; a nautical term (from ἐκβάλλω); the ἐκβολὴν ποιεῖσθαι idiom ('to make a jettison') renders Hebrew יָטִיל (hēṭîl, 'threw').
ἐποιήσαντοmade / didAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (middle: acting for themselves)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make'; in the idiom ἐκβολὴν ποιεῖσθαι ('make a jettison') the middle voice emphasizes the sailors' own self-interested action.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτῶν: pronominal or article form rendered 'of the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
σκευῶνgear / cargoGenitivepartitive genitive (the cargo thrown overboard)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσκεῦος: 'vessel, implement, equipment'; plural = cargo, ship's gear.
τῶνthat wereGenitivearticle (restrictive with following prepositional phrase)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobediencethe genitive article τῶν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ κυρίου = 'those (who were) in the house of the LORD,' specifying the location of the καδησιμ within the temple itself.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐν: preposition with the dative marking location, sphere, or circumstance; here 'in'.
τῷtheDativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτῷ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
πλοίῳshipDativedative of location→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπλοῖον: ship or vessel; here in the dative of location on board the vessel.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction of throw)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement into a place or state.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
θάλασσανseaAccusativeobject of εἰς→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; the object of motion into which cargo and Jonah are thrown.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (purpose)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: the genitive article + infinitive (τοῦ ποιῆσαι) expresses purpose — the strength is given 'in order to produce wealth.'
κουφισθῆναιbe lightenedAor Pass Infin · κουφίζωinfinitive of purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveκουφίζω: 'lighten, make lighter'; nautical term for reducing a ship's load in an emergency.
ἀπ᾽frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀπό: preposition with the genitive marking separation or movement away; here 'from'.
αὐτῶν·themGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό (the cargo removed from them)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun with ἀπό in the genitive, 'from them'.
ἸωνᾶςJonahNominativesubject (contrastive with sailors)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸωνᾶς: Greek rendering of יוֹנָה ('dove'); the prophet's name, here as subject or topic in the narrative.
δὲbutadversative/contrastive particle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδέ: marks the sharp contrast: sailors active above, Jonah passive below.
κατέβηhad gone downAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb (pluperfect in sense: prior action)→ constative aorist (state achieved prior to sailors' activity)καταβαίνω: the descent motif continues — down into Joppa (v.3), now down into the ship's hold.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction into the hold)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement into a place or state.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
κοίληνholdAccusativeobject of εἰς (the hollow/hold of the ship)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκοίλη: 'hollow part, hold'; feminine substantive adjective (sc. κοιλία), the ship's hull cavity; the lowest and most sheltered space.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (genitive with κοίλην)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: article introducing the father as head of the household.
πλοίουshipGenitivegenitive of belonging→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπλοίου: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'ship' in this immediate context.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐκάθευδενwas lying down / was asleepImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · καθεύδωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous sleep)καθεύδω: 'sleep, lie asleep'; the imperfect conveys the ongoing, oblivious state.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔρρεγχεν.was snoringImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ῥέγχωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (continuous action)ῥέγχω: 'snore'; a vivid, colloquial word rare in literary Greek; its use here (not in MT, which simply says 'was asleep') may be the LXX's dramatic expansion. The snoring prophet amid the storm is one of the OT's great ironic images.
6
Καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Τί σὺ ῥέγχεις; ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν θεόν σου, ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα.
And the captain came to him and said to him: 'Why are you snoring? Rise and call on your god, so that God may save us and we may not perish.'
The pagan captain (πρωρεύς, 'ship's master') delivers the chapter's first great irony: he urges Jonah — the prophet of the LORD — to pray. His hope is expressed with ὅπως + subjunctive, a purpose/result clause. The οὐ μή + subjunctive (ἀπολώμεθα) is an emphatic negation of future possibility.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
προσῆλθενcame toAor Act Indic 3 Sg · προσέρχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristπροσέρχομαι: 'come to, approach'; purposeful approach to the sleeping Jonah.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward person)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: refers to Simon as recipient of the embassy.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
πρωρεὺςcaptain / ship's masterNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρωρεύς: 'ship's officer, captain, prow-man'; from πρῷρα 'prow/bow'; renders Hebrew רַב הַחֹבֵל (rab ha-ḥōbēl, 'the chief helmsman/captain'). A pagan mariner urges prayer on a prophet of the LORD.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech introduction)→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'; standard narrative speech-introducing verb.
αὐτῷ·to himDativedative of indirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the dative, here the indirect object 'to him'.
Τίwhyinterrogative adverb (reason)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτί: interrogative adverbial use asking reason or cause; here 'why?'.
σὺyouNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ: second-person pronoun; here an emphatic subject form addressing Jonah directly.
ῥέγχεις;are snoringPres Act Indic 2 Sg · ῥέγχωmain verb (rhetorical question)→ progressive present (ongoing action)ῥέγχω: echoes the same rare word from v.5; the captain's question picks up the narrator's observation.
ἀνάσταriseAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀνίστημιmain verb (imperative of urgent command)→ ingressive aorist imperativeἀνίστημι: echoes the divine command to Jonah in v.2 (ἀνάστηθι) — the pagan captain now gives Jonah the very command the LORD gave.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (serial imperative)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐπικαλοῦcall uponPres Mid Impv 2 Sg · ἐπικαλέωmain verb (imperative of command)→ present imperative (ongoing calling)ἐπικαλέω: 'call upon, invoke'; the middle 'call upon for oneself' — the standard word for invoking a deity. NT: Rom 10:13 (Joel 2:32 LXX).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
θεόνgodAccusativedirect object of ἐπικαλοῦ→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθεός: god; here the deity Jonah is told to invoke, before the narrative identifies him as the LORD.
σου,yourGenitivegenitive of possession (Jonah's particular God)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσου: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'your' in this immediate context.
ὅπωςso thatpurpose/result conjunction (+ subjunctive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅπως: conjunction introducing purpose or intended result; here 'so that'.
διασώσῃmay saveAor Act Subj 3 Sg · διασῴζωmain verb of purpose clause→ constative aorist subjunctiveδιασῴζω: 'save thoroughly, bring safely through'; the prefixed δια- intensifies the saving — complete rescue from the storm.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject of purpose clause (Jonah's θεός = the LORD)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθεός: God; here Jonah's God, identified with the LORD who rules sea and land.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of διασώσῃ→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person plural pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object of the saving action.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
οὐnotnegation (with μή forming emphatic double negation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὐ: standard negation with the indicative or factual assertion; here 'not'.
μὴnotnegation (double negation οὐ μή + subj. = emphatic future negation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμή: non-indicative negation, often with subjunctive or imperative force; here 'not'.
ἀπολώμεθα.perishAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιverb of negative purpose clause (οὐ μή + subj.)→ constative aorist subjunctiveἀπόλλυμι: 'destroy, perish'; mid. = 'be destroyed, perish'; the emphatic οὐ μή + subjunctive expresses strong negation of a feared outcome.
7
Καὶ εἶπεν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν πλησίον αὐτοῦ· Δεῦτε βάλωμεν κλήρους καὶ γνῶμεν τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡ κακία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν. καὶ ἔβαλον κλήρους, καὶ ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπὶ Ἰωνᾶν.
And each said to his neighbor: 'Come, let us cast lots and find out on whose account this evil is upon us.' And they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
The sailors use the common ancient practice of lot-casting (κλῆρος) to identify the guilty party. The deliberative subjunctive βάλωμεν / γνῶμεν signals communal decision. The lot 'falling' on Jonah (ἔπεσεν ὁ κλῆρος ἐπί) is the standard idiom; the implied agent is divine providence.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'.
ἕκαστοςeachNominativedistributive subject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕκαστος: 'each one'; the polytheistic crew again acting individually, now collectively reaching consensus.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
πλησίονneighborAccusativeobject of πρός (neighbor, fellow sailor)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπλησίον: 'neighbor, one nearby'; here fellow crew member.
αὐτοῦ·hisGenitivegenitive of possession→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτοῦ: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'his' in this immediate context.
Δεῦτεcomehortatory particle (call to common action)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδεῦτε: 'come!' (plural); an interjection calling the group to action; Hebraism (לְכוּ, lᵉkû).
βάλωμενlet us castAor Act Subj 1 Pl · βάλλωhortatory subjunctive (deliberative)→ constative aorist subjunctiveβάλλω: 'throw, cast'; in the idiom κλήρους βάλλω = 'cast lots.'
κλήρουςlotsAccusativedirect object of βάλωμεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκλῆρος: 'lot' (object used in divination); later also 'inheritance, allotment'; the LXX standard for the Hebrew גּוֹרָל (gôrāl). The lot is understood as revealing divine will (Prov 16:33).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
γνῶμενlet us know / find outAor Act Subj 1 Pl · γινώσκωhortatory subjunctive (co-ordinate purpose)→ constative aorist subjunctiveγινώσκω: 'know, find out, discern'; the lot will provide knowledge of the guilty party.
τίνοςwhose / on account of whomGenitiveinterrogative genitive (indirect question: whose account?)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτίς: interrogative pronoun; the genitive asks 'whose?' or 'on account of whom?' in indirect inquiry.
ἕνεκενbecause of / on account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive (cause)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕνεκεν / ἕνεκα: 'because of, on account of'; here with the genitive pronoun τίνος forming a causal interrogative.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
κακίαevil / disasterNominativesubject of ἐστίν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκακία: same word as v.2 (the city's 'wickedness'); now referring to the storm-disaster — both senses of the Hebrew רָעָה at play.
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (attributive to κακία)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: 'this'; the feminine αὕτη agrees with ἐπίσκεψις; the summarizing 'this is the numbering' closes off the census-report.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ gnomic/stative presentεἰμί: equative 'is'; the question of identity is the question of the whole chapter — is this really the woman who left full?
ἐνupon / amongpreposition + dative (location/source)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐν: preposition rendered 'upon / among' here, functioning according to its local construction.
ἡμῖν.usDativedative of location (the evil upon/among us)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡμῖν.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'us' in this immediate context.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (narrative sequence)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔβαλονthey castAor Act Indic 3 Pl · βάλλωmain verb→ constative aoristβάλλω: 'cast, throw'; here the sailors cast lots to discover the divinely indicated cause of the storm.
κλήρους,lotsAccusativedirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκλῆρος: lots cast for divinatory decision in a crisis, here exposing Jonah.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔπεσενfellAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πίπτωmain verb→ constative aoristπίπτω: 'fall'; in the idiom 'the lot fell on' — the standard idiom for the result of lot-casting, implying divine direction (cf. Prov 16:33; Acts 1:26).
ὁtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
κλῆροςlotNominativesubject of ἔπεσεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκλῆρος: lot; the token cast to discern divine disclosure of responsibility.
ἐπὶon / uponpreposition + accusative (direction of the lot's falling)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐπὶ: preposition rendered 'on / upon' here, functioning according to its local construction.
Ἰωνᾶν.JonahAccusativeobject of ἐπί (the lot identifies Jonah)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸωνᾶν.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'Jonah' in this immediate context.
8
Καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· Ἀπάγγειλον ἡμῖν τίνος ἕνεκεν ἡ κακία αὕτη ἐστὶν ἐν ἡμῖν· τίς σου ἡ ἐργασία, καὶ πόθεν ἔρχῃ, καὶ ἐκ ποίας χώρας, καὶ ἐκ ποίου λαοῦ εἶ σύ;
And they said to him: 'Tell us on whose account this evil is upon us. What is your occupation, and from where do you come, and from what country, and from what people are you?'
A four-part interrogation: the sailors press Jonah for the information the lot has pointed to but not supplied. The questions — occupation, origin, country, people — are standard ancient identity-markers. The cluster of questions echoes the cultural practice of establishing a stranger's credentials before trusting or condemning him.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
αὐτῷ·to himDativedative of indirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the dative, here the indirect object 'to him'.
Ἀπάγγειλονtell / reportAor Act Impv 2 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb (imperative of command)→ constative aorist imperativeἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, announce, tell'; used of formal declarations and reports; the sailors demand a clear accounting.
ἡμῖνusDativedative of indirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person plural pronoun in the dative, here marking the affected party or indirect object.
τίνοςwhoseGenitiveinterrogative genitive (indirect question: on whose account?)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτίς: interrogative pronoun; the genitive asks 'whose?' in indirect inquiry.
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕνεκεν: postpositive preposition governing the genitive and expressing cause, 'on account of'.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
κακίαevil / disasterNominativesubject of ἐστίν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκακία: third occurrence; the lexical thread ties the city's wickedness (v.2), the sailors' disaster (v.7), and now the quest for its cause (v.8).
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο: 'this'; the feminine αὕτη agrees with ἐπίσκεψις; the summarizing 'this is the numbering' closes off the census-report.
ἐστὶνisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative presentεἰμί: equative 'is'; the question of identity is the question of the whole chapter — is this really the woman who left full?
ἐνuponpreposition + dative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐν: preposition rendered 'upon' here, functioning according to its local construction.
ἡμῖν·usDativedative of location→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡμῖν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'us' in this immediate context.
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτίς: interrogative pronoun asking for identity, explanation, or content; here 'what'.
σουyourGenitivegenitive of possession→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ (gen. σου): possessive 'your'; the direct second-person address marks the shift to apostrophe.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
ἐργασία,occupation / workNominativepredicate nominative (answer to τίς)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐργασία: 'occupation, trade, activity'; what is Jonah's profession? The irony: he is a prophet, a man of divine speech — yet silent.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
πόθενfrom whereinterrogative adverb of place→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπόθεν: interrogative adverb of source or origin, 'from where?'.
ἔρχῃ,do you comePres Mid Indic 2 Sg · ἔρχομαιmain verb (second question)→ progressive presentἔρχομαι: verbal form expressing action, state, speech, movement, or relation according to its tense-form and clause role.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
ποίαςwhatGenitiveinterrogative adjective (modifying χώρας)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceποῖος: interrogative adjective asking of what sort or from what region; here modifying χώρας.
χώρας,countryGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (third question: what country?)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceχώρα: 'country, land, region'; ethnic/geographical identity.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (origin)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
ποίουwhatGenitiveinterrogative adjective (modifying λαοῦ)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceποῖος: interrogative adjective asking of what sort or from what people; here modifying λαοῦ.
λαοῦpeopleGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (fourth question: what nation?)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceλαός: 'people, nation'; often in LXX of Israel as God's people; here the sailors ask about ethnic identity.
εἶarePres Act Indic 2 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb (fourth question)→ stative presentεἰμί: links Simon with the office they ascribe to him.
σύ;youNominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ: second-person pronoun; here an emphatic subject form completing the sailors' interrogation.
9
Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Δοῦλος κυρίου ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ τὸν κύριον τὸν θεὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐγὼ σέβομαι, ὃς ἐποίησεν τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν ξηράν.
And he said to them: 'I am a servant of the LORD, and I worship the LORD the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.'
The most famous LXX/MT divergence in this chapter: where the MT has עִבְרִי אָנֹכִי ('I am a Hebrew'), the LXX reads δοῦλος κυρίου ἐγώ εἰμι ('I am a servant of the LORD'). This is a major text-critical crux. Jonah's confession moves from identity (δοῦλος κυρίου) to worship (σέβομαι) to creation theology (ὃς ἐποίησεν): the God he is fleeing is the Lord of both sea and land — the very sea now threatening the ship.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
αὐτούς·themAccusativeobject of πρός (the sailors)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to the sailors.
Δοῦλοςservant / slaveNominativepredicate nominative (LXX self-identification)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδοῦλος: 'slave, servant'; in the LXX especially 'servant of the LORD' (עֶבֶד יְהוָה) is a title of honor for prophets and leaders. The MT has עִבְרִי ('Hebrew') — a famous divergence. Whether the LXX reflects a different Vorlage or theological interpretive choice is debated; the LXX may have read the consonants differently or interpreted the title theologically.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship / belonging→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the Tetragrammaton; δοῦλος κυρίου is the honorific title of the prophets (Amos 3:7; Jer 7:25 LXX).
ἐγώINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person singular pronoun used emphatically in Jonah's confession or self-acknowledgment.
εἰμι,amPres Act Indic 1 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative presentεἰμί: copular verb; here Jonah's emphatic self-identification introduces his confessional answer.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of σέβομαι→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος (acc. κύριον): rendering of the Tetragrammaton; Moses cries 'to the LORD' — the deliverer of the sea is also the provider in the wilderness.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (continuing apposition)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
θεὸνGodAccusativeappositive accusative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθεός: God; here Jonah's God, identified with the LORD who rules sea and land.
τοῦofGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article in the genitive, marking relation or substantival reference.
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitivegenitive of relationship (God of heaven)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὐρανός: 'heaven'; 'God of heaven' (אֱלֹהֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם) is the standard international formula for the God of Israel in exilic and post-exilic texts (Ezra 1:2; Neh 1:4–5; Dan 2:18–19).
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: emphatic 'I for my part', stressing David's willingness to enter the covenant on his terms.
σέβομαι,worship / reverePres Mid Indic 1 Sg · σέβομαιmain verb→ progressive present (habitual devotion)σέβομαι: 'worship, revere, be devout'; a solemn cultic term, used of Jews worshipping the God of Israel in the diaspora context (Acts 13:43, 50; 17:4, 17).
ὃςwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐποίησεν)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅς: relative pronoun; identifies a named figure by means of a brief explanatory clause.
ἐποίησενmade / createdAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ποιέωmain verb of relative clause (creation affirmation)→ constative aorist (creation as completed act)ποιέω: 'make, create'; the creation formula echoes Gen 1 LXX; Jonah's confession grounds the storm in the sovereignty of the very God he is fleeing — the Lord of the sea he is sailing.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
θάλασσανseaAccusativedirect object of ἐποίησεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: the sea that is now threatening them; Jonah's God created the very element tormenting the sailors.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
ξηράν.dry landAccusativedirect object (second; the merism sea + land = all creation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceξηρά: 'dry land'; the merism θάλασσα καὶ ξηρά ('sea and dry land') asserts the LORD's universal sovereignty — no geography lies outside his domain.
10
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβον μέγαν καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· Τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; διότι ἔγνωσαν οἱ ἄνδρες ὅτι ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου ἦν φεύγων, ὅτι ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς.
And the men feared with a great fear and said to him: 'What is this you have done?' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
The cognate accusative φόβον μέγαν ('feared a great fear') is a Hebraism intensifying the emotion. The double ὅτι explains first the question's basis ('because they knew') and then how they knew ('because he had told them') — a narrative clarification. Their fear has now shifted from maritime terror to theological awe.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐφοβήθησανfearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (new level of fear seized them)φοβέομαι: second occurrence of fear in this chapter (cf. v.5); now theological fear — the fear of the LORD's power.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the following substantive or substantival phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀνήρ: 'man'; the sailors are now called 'the men' (οἱ ἄνδρες) rather than 'the sailors' (οἱ ναῦται), perhaps a shift toward viewing them as moral agents.
φόβονfearAccusativecognate accusative (Hebraism: פַּחַד גָּדוֹל)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceφόβος: 'fear'; the cognate-accusative construction (verb + cognate noun of the same root) is a standard Hebraism intensifying the action.
μέγανgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying φόβον)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμέγας: 'great'; the third major 'great' in this chapter (great city v.2, great surge v.4, great fear v.10).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of speech)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
αὐτόν·himAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to Jonah.
ΤίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ἐποίησας)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτίς: interrogative pronoun asking for identity, explanation, or content; here 'what'.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object, intensifying Τί)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὗτος: 'this'; διὰ τοῦτο is the standard etiological formula introducing the naming.
ἐποίησας;have you doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (accusatory rhetorical question)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do'; the question Τί τοῦτο ἐποίησας; echoes the accusatory formula of Gen 3:13 (Eve) and Gen 4:10 (Cain) — a heightened moral indictment.
διότιfor / becausecausal conjunction (explanatory)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδιότι: 'because, for'; introduces the narrator's explanation.
ἔγνωσανknewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb of causal clause→ constative aoristγινώσκω: 'know / perceive'; renders יָדַע; the parents' not-knowing is the narrator's device for dramatic irony — the reader is granted the divine perspective the characters lack (cf. the same construction at Exod 11 of Pharaoh's ignorance and at Gen 42:23 of Joseph's brothers).
οἱtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the following substantive or substantival phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀνήρ: men; here the sailors as the human agents who fear, question, and finally worship.
ὅτιthatconjunction (indirect statement after ἔγνωσαν)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: conjunction introducing reported speech or content; here 'that'.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation/source)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
προσώπουpresenceGenitiveHebraism (ἐκ προσώπου = מִלִּפְנֵי)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρόσωπον: face or presence; in the Hebraism ἐκ προσώπου κυρίου it means 'from the presence of the LORD'.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; remarkably, the pagan Philistines name the ark by YHWH's title — orthodox recognition on foreign lips.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίauxiliary with periphrastic participle φεύγων→ progressive imperfect (ongoing action in past)εἰμί: 'be'
φεύγων,fleeingPres Act Ptcp Nom Sg Masc · φεύγωperiphrastic participle (with ἦν: past progressive)→ present participle (ongoing flight)φεύγω: the flight of v.3 now named explicitly to the sailors; the ἦν φεύγων periphrasis emphasizes the ongoing, deliberate nature of the flight.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (explaining how they knew)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: conjunction introducing a causal clause; here 'because'.
ἀπήγγειλενhad toldAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb of second causal clause→ constative aorist (prior narration)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, declare'; Jonah's own declaration (v.9) is what informed the sailors. The narrator clarifies what v.9 implied.
αὐτοῖς.to themDativedative of indirect object→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτοῖς.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'to them' in this immediate context.
11
Καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτόν· Τί σοι ποιήσωμεν, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν; ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον κύματα.
And they said to him: 'What shall we do to you, so that the sea may calm for us?' For the sea was going and rising in its waves even more.
The sailors ask Jonah what must be done with him. κοπάσει (from κοπάζω, 'abate') is used again at v.12; the verb is characteristic of the LXX Jonah storm vocabulary. The narrator interjects an ὅτι clause noting the worsening storm. ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο ('the sea was going') personalizes the sea as hostile agent.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω (aor. εἶπαν, Koine form): introduces the third invitation.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
αὐτόν·himAccusativeobject of πρός (Jonah)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to Jonah.
ΤίwhatAccusativeinterrogative pronoun (object of ποιήσωμεν)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτίς: interrogative pronoun asking for identity, explanation, or content; here 'what'.
σοιto youDativedative of disadvantage (what shall we do to/with you?)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ: second-person pronoun in the dative, marking the indirect object or affected party.
ποιήσωμεν,shall we doAor Act Subj 1 Pl · ποιέωdeliberative subjunctive (first-person)→ constative aorist subjunctiveποιέω: the sailors' question is genuine moral hesitation — they are not yet ready to throw Jonah overboard.
καὶand / so thatconsecutive/purpose conjunction (Hebraism: waw-consecutive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: here introducing the protective result — the Levitical mediation prevents the danger that follows.
κοπάσειwill abateFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κοπάζωmain verb (apodosis of implicit condition)→ predictive futureκοπάζω: 'abate, cease, die down'; specifically of storms stopping; same verb at v.12 (Jonah's prediction) and Matt 14:32 (the wind ceases after Jesus walks on water). NT echo: the stilling of the storm.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of κοπάσει→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; in Jonah 1 the realm of divine upheaval, threat, and eventual calming.
ἀφ᾽frompreposition + genitive (separation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀπό: preposition with the genitive marking separation or movement away; here 'from'.
ἡμῶν;usGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡμῶν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'us' in this immediate context.
ὅτιfor / becausecausal conjunction (narrator's explanation)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: 'because'; introduces the narrator's reason for the recall — Joab's mercy on the troops.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject (the sea personified)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; in Jonah 1 the realm of divine upheaval, threat, and eventual calming.
ἐπορεύετοwas going / heavingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ progressive imperfectπορεύομαι: used of the sea in motion — vivid personification.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐξήγειρενwas raising upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ progressive imperfect (escalating storm)ἐξεγείρω: same verb as v.4; the sea now raising its own waves.
μᾶλλονmoreadverb of degree→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμᾶλλον: comparative adverb, 'more' or 'rather', intensifying the action.
κύματα.wavesAccusativedirect object of ἐξήγειρεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκῦμα: 'wave, billow'; the sea stirring its own waves.
12
Καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἄρατέ με καὶ ἐκρίψατέ με εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ κοπάσει ἡ θάλασσα ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν· διότι ἔγνωκα ἐγὼ ὅτι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ ὁ κλύδων ὁ μέγας οὗτος ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἐστιν.
And he said to them: 'Take me and throw me into the sea, and the sea will abate for you; for I know that on account of me this great storm is upon you.'
Jonah's instruction to throw him overboard is extraordinary: the prophet accepts responsibility and instructs his own death-sentence. The perfect ἔγνωκα ('I know with settled awareness') indicates full self-knowledge of guilt. κλύδων μέγας echoes v.4. NT echo: Jesus' willingness to be 'thrown into' death to save others (Matt 12:40).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb→ constative aoristλέγω: 'say'.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
αὐτούς·themAccusativeobject of πρός→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: third-person pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to the sailors.
Ἄρατέtake / liftAor Act Impv 2 Pl · αἴρωmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist imperativeαἴρω: 'lift, take up'; Jonah commands his own removal — a self-sacrifice.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of Ἄρατε→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person singular pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to Jonah.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (serial imperative)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐκρίψατέthrowAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἐκρίπτωmain verb (imperative)→ constative aorist imperativeἐκρίπτω: 'throw out, cast overboard'; the same verb family as the cargo-jettisoning of v.5; now Jonah is the cargo.
μεmeAccusativedirect object of ἐκρίψατε→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person singular pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object referring to Jonah.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement into a place or state.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσαν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'sea' in this immediate context.
καὶandconsecutive conjunction (result)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
κοπάσειwill abateFut Act Indic 3 Sg · κοπάζωmain verb (prediction)→ predictive futureκοπάζω: Jonah's prediction; fulfilled at v.15.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of κοπάσει→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; in Jonah 1 the realm of divine upheaval, threat, and eventual calming.
ἀφ᾽frompreposition + genitive→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀπό: preposition with the genitive marking separation or movement away; here 'from'.
ὑμῶν·youGenitivegenitive object of ἀπό→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὑμῶν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'you' in this immediate context.
διότιfor / becausecausal conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδιότι: 'because / for the reason that'; introduces the further ground — Israel's status as sojourners.
ἔγνωκαI knowPerf Act Indic 1 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb→ intensive perfect (settled knowledge)γινώσκω: the perfect ἔγνωκα = 'I have come to know and now know' — settled awareness of his own guilt as cause.
ἐγὼINominativeemphatic subject pronoun→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: emphatic 'I for my part', stressing David's willingness to enter the covenant on his terms.
ὅτιthatconjunction (indirect statement after ἔγνωκα)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: conjunction introducing reported speech or content; here 'that'.
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive (cause)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕνεκεν: postpositive preposition governing the genitive and expressing cause, 'on account of'.
ἐμοῦmeGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν (emphatic form)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ (gen. ἐμοῦ): 'me'; Saul as one party of the lot.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
κλύδωνsurge / stormNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκλύδων: echoes v.4; the 'great surge' sent by the LORD is now identified by Jonah as being on account of him.
ὁtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
μέγαςgreatNominativeattributive adjective→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμέγας: great, indicating the enemy's significance.
οὗτοςthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (pointing to the present storm)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὗτος: this, pointing deictically to the monument just described.
ἐφ᾽uponpreposition + accusative (against you)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐφ᾽: preposition used here with the force indicated by its complement and context.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ: you, the Jewish recipients in whose favor the terms stand.
ἐστιν.isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopulative verb→ stative presentεἰμί: copular verb; here it concludes Jonah's explanation that the storm is upon the sailors because of him.
13
Καὶ παρεβιάζοντο οἱ ἄνδρες τοῦ ἐπιστρέψαι πρὸς τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἠδύναντο, ὅτι ἡ θάλασσα ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς.
And the men strained to return to land but were not able, because the sea was going and rising even more against them.
The sailors' reluctance to throw Jonah overboard is signaled by their attempt to row to land. παρεβιάζοντο is a conative imperfect — 'they kept trying but could not.' The narrator repeats v.11's storm language (ἐπορεύετο καὶ ἐξήγειρεν μᾶλλον) with the added ἐπ᾽ αὐτούς — the storm now explicitly directed at them personally. Their moral hesitation is commendable.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
παρεβιάζοντοwere strainingImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραβιάζομαιmain verb→ conative imperfect (attempted but unsuccessful action)παραβιάζομαι: 'force, constrain, strive hard'; the conative imperfect signals prolonged effort without success; renders MT יַחְתְּרוּ ('they rowed/dug hard').
οἱtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the following substantive or substantival phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀνήρ: men; here the sailors as the human agents who fear, question, and finally worship.
τοῦtoGenitivearticle with infinitive (genitive articular infinitive of attempted purpose)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: the genitive article + infinitive (τοῦ ποιῆσαι) expresses purpose — the strength is given 'in order to produce wealth.'
ἐπιστρέψαιreturnAor Act Infin · ἐπιστρέφωinfinitive of attempted purpose→ constative aorist infinitiveἐπιστρέφω: 'return, turn back'; also the LXX word for spiritual repentance (שׁוּב, šûb); here literal, though the narrative is saturated with the theme of turning.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
γῆνlandAccusativeobject of πρός (destination: shore)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceγῆ: land contrasted with the menacing sea.
καὶbutadversative coordinator→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: carries the narrative into an unexpected reversal.
οὐκnotnegation→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὐκ: connective or particle rendered 'not' here, shaping the clause or discourse flow in context.
ἠδύναντο,were ableImpf Mid Indic 3 Pl · δύναμαιmain verb (denied ability)→ progressive imperfect (ongoing inability)δύναμαι: 'be able'; the imperfect — 'they kept on but could not.'
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: conjunction introducing a causal clause; here 'because'.
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; in Jonah 1 the realm of divine upheaval, threat, and eventual calming.
ἐπορεύετοwas goingImpf Mid Indic 3 Sg · πορεύομαιmain verb→ progressive imperfectπορεύομαι: repetition of v.11's language creates menacing verbal echo.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐξήγειρενwas raising upImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξεγείρωmain verb→ progressive imperfectἐξεγείρω: third occurrence (vv.4, 11, 13); storm escalating.
μᾶλλονmoreadverb of degree→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμᾶλλον: comparative adverb, 'more' or 'rather', intensifying the action.
ἐπ᾽againstpreposition + accusative (direction of storm's force against them)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐπ᾽: preposition used here with the force indicated by its complement and context.
αὐτούς.themAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτούς.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'them' in this immediate context.
14
Καὶ ἀνεβόησαν πρὸς κύριον καὶ εἶπαν· Μηδαμῶς, κύριε, μὴ ἀπολώμεθα ἕνεκεν τῆς ψυχῆς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου καὶ μὴ δῷς ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς αἷμα δίκαιον· ὅτι σύ, κύριε, ὃν τρόπον ἐβούλου ἐποίησας.
And they cried to the LORD and said: 'Not at all, O LORD — let us not perish on account of this man's life, and do not lay innocent blood upon us; for you, O LORD, have done as you have willed.'
The sailors' prayer is theologically remarkable: they call on the LORD by name (κύριε), acknowledge his sovereignty ('you have done as you willed'), and ask forgiveness for the unavoidable shedding of blood. The phrase αἷμα δίκαιον ('innocent blood') echoes the language of innocent-blood guilt in Deut 27:25; Jer 7:6 LXX. Their prayer implies conversion — pagan sailors now addressing Israel's God directly. ὃν τρόπον ἐβούλου ἐποίησας = 'you have done as you willed' — a confession of divine sovereignty.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἀνεβόησανcried outAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀναβοάωmain verb→ constative aoristἀναβοάω: 'cry out, shout aloud'; earlier (v.5) they cried each to his own god; now they cry together to the LORD — the narrative marks their transition.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction of prayer)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceπρός: preposition with the accusative marking direction, address, or relation; here 'to'.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativeobject of πρός (the sailors now praying to Israel's God)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the sailors now address Israel's God by his covenant title, not 'their own gods' (v.5); a dramatic theological shift.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εἶπαν·saidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (introducing prayer)→ constative aoristλέγω: common verb of speaking; here it introduces the sailors' direct prayer to the LORD.
Μηδαμῶς,not at all / by no meansemphatic negation / particle of strong denial→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμηδαμῶς: 'by no means, not at all'; a strong emphatic negation; the same particle used by Peter refusing the unclean animals in Acts 10:14; 11:8.
κύριε,LORD / O LORDVocativevocative (address in prayer)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: vocative of direct address in prayer — the sailors invoking the God of Israel whose name Jonah declared.
μὴnotnegation (with subjunctive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμή: non-indicative negation, often with subjunctive or imperative force; here 'not'.
ἀπολώμεθαmay we perishAor Mid Subj 1 Pl · ἀπόλλυμιnegative wish/prayer (μή + subjunctive)→ constative aorist subjunctiveἀπόλλυμι: 'perish, be destroyed'; they ask not to be punished for Jonah's death.
ἕνεκενon account ofpostpositive preposition + genitive→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἕνεκεν: postpositive preposition governing the genitive and expressing cause, 'on account of'.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the associated noun phrase.
ψυχῆςlife / soulGenitivegenitive object of ἕνεκεν→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceψυχή: 'soul, life'; here 'on account of this man's life' — they recognize Jonah as the cause but do not want his death on their hands.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
ἀνθρώπουmanGenitivegenitive of relationship (man's soul)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἄνθρωπος: 'man, human being'; the sailors refer to Jonah with some distance — 'this man.'
τούτουthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (pointing to Jonah)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceοὗτος: 'this'; deictic — the present law-book.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
μὴnotnegation (with subjunctive)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμή: non-indicative negation, often with subjunctive or imperative force; here 'not'.
δῷςlay / giveAor Act Subj 2 Sg · δίδωμιnegative prayer (μή + subjunctive, address to LORD)→ constative aorist subjunctiveδίδωμι: 'give, place upon'; the idiom 'give innocent blood upon us' = lay blood-guilt on us (cf. Deut 21:8–9).
ἐφ᾽uponpreposition + accusative (against/upon us)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐφ᾽: preposition used here with the force indicated by its complement and context.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of ἐπί→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐγώ: first-person plural pronoun in the accusative, here the direct object of the saving action.
αἷμαbloodAccusativedirect object of δῷς→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαἷμα: 'blood'; in the idiom αἷμα δίκαιον ('innocent blood') — the Deuteronomic concept of bloodguilt for unjust killing (Deut 27:25; 2 Kgs 21:16).
δίκαιον·innocent / righteousAccusativeattributive adjective (modifying αἷμα)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceδίκαιος: 'righteous, innocent'; αἷμα δίκαιον = 'innocent blood' — the guilt of killing one who does not deserve death (ironically, Jonah's death is both deserved and innocent).
ὅτιforcausal conjunction (ground for the prayer)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὅτι: 'for / because'; introduces the governing principle of honor and dishonor.
σύ,youNominativeemphatic subject pronoun (addressing the LORD)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσύ: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'you' in this immediate context.
κύριε,O LORDVocativevocative (repeated address)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριε: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'O LORD' in this immediate context.
ὃνasAccusativerelative pronoun in modal idiom (ὃν τρόπον = 'in which manner/as')→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὃν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'as' in this immediate context.
τρόπονmanner / wayAccusativecognate-accusative in modal idiom→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτρόπος: 'manner, way'; the idiom ὃν τρόπον = 'as, in whatever manner'; a Hebraism for כַּאֲשֶׁר ('just as, however').
ἐβούλουyou willedImpf Mid Indic 2 Sg · βούλομαιmain verb of relative clause→ progressive/customary imperfect (divine will as ongoing disposition)βούλομαι: 'will, intend, choose'; the imperfect ἐβούλου = 'as you were pleased to will' — acknowledging that the LORD's will determined events.
ἐποίησας.you have doneAor Act Indic 2 Sg · ποιέωmain verb (confessional assertion)→ constative aoristποιέω: 'do, make'; the confession 'you have done as you willed' is a doxological acknowledgment of divine sovereignty over events; a remarkable confession from pagan sailors.
15
Καὶ ἔλαβον τὸν Ἰωνᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ἐκ τοῦ σάλου αὐτῆς.
And they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
The climax of the chapter's storm narrative: three verbs — ἔλαβον, ἐξέβαλον, ἔστη — drive to the miracle. ἔστη ἡ θάλασσα ('the sea stood still') uses ἵστημι to describe the sea's sudden arrest, a powerful image. Jonah's prediction (v.12) is precisely fulfilled. σάλος ('raging, tossing') is the sea's violent motion now ended.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔλαβονtookAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαμβάνωmain verb→ constative aoristλαμβάνω: 'take, take hold of'; the sailors finally act on Jonah's own instruction.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
ἸωνᾶνJonahAccusativedirect object of ἔλαβον→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἸωνᾶς: Greek rendering of יוֹנָה ('dove'); the prophet's name, here in an oblique case.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐξέβαλονthrewAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἐκβάλλωmain verb→ constative aoristἐκβάλλω: 'throw out, cast out'; the compound ἐκ- emphasizes 'out of' the ship; the same verb-root as the cargo-jettison (ἐκβολή, v.5). Jonah joins the cargo thrown overboard.
αὐτὸνhimAccusativedirect object of ἐξέβαλον→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτός: refers to Simon as recipient of the embassy.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (direction)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεἰς: preposition with the accusative marking movement into a place or state.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative feminine singular noun phrase here.
θάλασσαν,seaAccusativeobject of εἰς→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσαν: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'sea' in this immediate context.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (immediate consequence)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔστηceased / stood stillAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἵστημιmain verb (miraculous result)→ ingressive aorist (the sea coming to a stop)ἵστημι: 'stand, stop'; ἔστη = 'it stood still / it stopped'; the miracle of instantaneous calm fulfills Jonah's word. NT echo: Jesus rebuking the sea (Mark 4:39 — ἐκόπασεν, but same concept).
ἡtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἡ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
θάλασσαseaNominativesubject of ἔστη→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθάλασσα: sea; in Jonah 1 the realm of divine upheaval, threat, and eventual calming.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation from its raging)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἐκ: preposition with the genitive marking source, separation, or origin; here 'from'.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτοῦ: pronominal or article form rendered 'the' here, functioning according to its local inflection and syntax.
σάλουraging / tossingGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (separation from the turbulence)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceσάλος: 'tossing, surging, turbulence'; a nautical term for violent wave-motion; renders Hebrew זַעַף (zaʿap, 'rage, fury'). The sea ceases from (ἐκ) its own raging — personification consistent with the whole chapter.
αὐτῆς.itsGenitivegenitive of possession (the sea's own raging)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceαὐτῆς.: nominal or pronominal form rendered 'its' in this immediate context.
16
Καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ἄνδρες φόβῳ μεγάλῳ τὸν κύριον καὶ ἔθυσαν θυσίαν τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ εὔξαντο εὐχάς.
And the men feared the LORD with a great fear, and they sacrificed a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
The chapter closes with a triple act of worship from the pagan sailors: fear, sacrifice, and vows. The cognate dative φόβῳ μεγάλῳ (Hebraism: with a great fear) echoes and intensifies the cognate accusative of v.10. The shift from v.10's φόβον μέγαν (storm-terror) to v.16's φόβῳ μεγάλῳ τὸν κύριον (fear directed at the LORD) marks the sailors' conversion: they now fear God in the positive, reverent sense. θυσία and εὐχαί (sacrifice and vows) are the standard acts of Israelite devotion — now performed by Gentile sailors. This scene is the narrative counterpart of Nineveh's repentance in ch.3.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
Καὶandparatactic connector→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἐφοβήθησανfearedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · φοβέομαιmain verb→ ingressive aorist (holy fear overcame them)φοβέομαι: third and climactic occurrence of 'fear' in the chapter (vv.5, 10, 16); now the reverential fear of the LORD, not merely maritime terror.
οἱtheNominativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the following substantive or substantival phrase.
ἄνδρεςmenNominativesubject→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceἀνήρ: men; here the sailors as the human agents who fear, question, and finally worship.
φόβῳfearDativecognate dative (Hebraism: with great fear = פַּחַד גָּדוֹל)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceφόβος: the cognate-dative construction (different from the accusative in v.10) intensifies the emotion through a different case. The dative of manner emphasizes the quality of the fear.
μεγάλῳgreatDativeattributive adjective (modifying φόβῳ)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceμέγας: final occurrence of 'great' in the chapter; the lexical thread (great city, great wind/surge, great fear v.10, great storm v.12) climaxes in the 'great fear' of the LORD.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceὁ: Greek definite article marking the accusative masculine singular noun phrase here.
κύριονLORDAccusativedirect object of ἐφοβήθησαν (objective fear: they feared the LORD)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the sailors now fear the LORD — God of Israel — with devoted reverence; the verb φοβέομαι + accusative of the person feared is the standard expression for piety.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
ἔθυσανsacrificedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · θύωmain verb→ constative aoristθύω: 'sacrifice, offer'; renders Hebrew זָבַח (zābaḥ); the offering is presumably a burnt offering or thank offering — at sea, they may have had animals aboard, or this may be an idealized account of proper worship.
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativecognate-object accusative (Hebraism: זָבַח זֶבַח)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceθυσία: 'sacrifice, offering'; the cognate accusative (θύω + θυσίαν) is a Hebraism intensifying the act.
τῷto theDativearticle→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceτῷ: lexical item rendered 'to the' here in the immediate context.
κυρίῳLORDDativedative of indirect object (to whom the sacrifice is offered)→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκύριος: the sacrifice and vows are offered to the LORD, Israel's God — the narrative's final marker of the sailors' conversion.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceκαί: coordinating conjunction linking clauses and scenes in Jonah's Hebraic narrative flow.
εὔξαντοmade / vowedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · εὔχομαιmain verb→ constative aoristεὔχομαι: 'pray, vow'; here specifically 'make vows' (cf. Ps 65:1; 76:11 LXX); the middle voice suggests acting for themselves, binding themselves to future obligations to the LORD.
εὐχάς.vowsAccusativecognate-object accusative→ commission, flight, storm, and exposed disobedienceεὐχή: 'vow, prayer'; the cognate accusative εὔχομαι + εὐχάς is another Hebraism (נָדַר נֵדֶר, 'vow a vow'); vows bind the worshipper to future acts of devotion — the sailors commit their future to the LORD.